Knotted Bronzes

This new body of work focuses on a new hand process, Macrame or Knotting, to create segments of worked cotton or linen that is be immortalised forever in Bronze. The five sculptures created for this collection toured UK Museums and Galleries as part of 'Made In The Middle' exhibition, celebrating makers from the Midlands, which launched in December 2016 at The Herbert Gallery and continued for 18 months.The sculptures are now available to buy in the online shop.

Hows It's Made:

Each sculpture begins with a sketch and an idea of size and scale required. A section of macrame is made on a cork board using waxed linen thread or dipped cotton cord. To create the hollow forms of the sculpture a negative solid core is required, made from a carved block of investment plaster. The final stage is bringing all the sections together, first the carved core is given a light sand and then the selected panel of macrame work is positioned and held in place with a series of waxed threads. Once the macrame is secured, the wax is worked onto the core and over the sides of the macrame panel until only small sections of knotting are remaining. The wax is sculpted and smoothed with a hot tool. This unique wax and linen sculpture is transported to the foundry to be transformed into bronze using the lost wax technique, where every individual knot and length of thread is preserved. The sculpture is finished with the artists signature stamp, given a polish of bees wax and attached onto it's plinth.

Mini Bronze Spheres

Every sphere begins with a single twist of wax worked over a solid form, as further twists are added the sphere begins to take shape. After weaving is complete the wax sphere is taken through the direct Lost Wax technique to become bronze. No two spheres are alike, with each one capturing delicate movements and swirls.

The sphere is finished with a coloured patina and marked wth the artist and foundry stamp. These small sculptures are left free standing to allow them to be handled and enjoy the tactile surface of the sculpture.

Crochet Bronzes

This collection of unique cast bronzes focuses on texture and shape.

Lengths of wax are manipulated using a finger crochet technique of chain stitch worked reflectively, the shapes develop almost independantly as further stitches are added.

After weaving, the waxes are transformed into bronze using the Direct Lost Wax technique, a coloured patine is added after casting, then sealed with a layer of protective bees wax.

Each sculpture is stamped with the artists and the foundry mark, before being attached to a plinth.

Textured Sculptures

Textured bronzes were created during a period of artist residencies within historic locations and finished with an exhibition in the Long Gallery in Sudbury Hall.

Textured bronzes are created by using an ancient technique called Solid Core casting, first a sketch is made of the proposed sculpture. From the sketch the negative space is imagined as positive space and carved from a solid block of investment plaster. Wax is worked over the surface of the core, adding texture to the surface by hand.

Both wax and core are taken through the direct lost wax technique which transforms the outer layer of wax into bronze. Once cool a small opening is made in the bronze and the plaster core is removed.

The opening is closed and the bronze finished with a coloured patina and then sealed with beeswax.

Miniature Shell Forms

This mini collection features delicate bronze sculptures that fit into the palm of your hand. Inspired by sea creatures that create a protective home around them, the miniatures feature intricate macrame work.